Glad to see President Obama taking strong action today to cut carbon pollution at power plants. We have a moral obligation to address climate change and safeguard our planet for future generations. This important step will protect our environment, our health, and our economy. ‪#řActOnClimate

With today’s announcement, we are taking an important step in fulfilling our promise of a healthier and brighter tomorrow for our children. We already have limits on toxins like lead, mercury, and arsenic. Carbon pollution should be no different and as of today it no longer is.

As a father of four, I am always thinking about the kind of world I want to leave to my kids. President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency outlined today the most significant step the United States has ever taken to curb carbon emissions and fight back against climate change. We have an obligation to future generations, and to the millions of Americans already feeling the affects of pollution and global warming, to make changes now. Thank you, Mr. President.

In the face of reckless Congressional inaction, the EPA’s proposal to reduce carbon pollution over the next 16 years is the strongest action to date on climate change. Despite an overwhelming consensus in the scientific community that climate change is a real danger, Republicans in Congress continue to block legislation to address the threat. We must work constructively to find solutions that are rooted in science and protect our environment for the next generation. ‪#řActOnClimate

ACT ON CLIMATE: As an environmentalist and a member of Congress, fighting climate change can feel like an uphill battle. Thankfully, new carbon emission standards announced today will protect our public health and spur smart investments in clean energy that will create jobs and economic growth. Perhaps most important, they help fulfill a promise we make to our young people to leave them with a world that is better than we found it, rich in natural resources and that will last for generations to come. Learn more at www.whitehouse.gov/climate-change.

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Clean Power Plan proposal, which for the first time cuts carbon pollution from existing power plants, the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United States.

I am proud that Massachusetts has been a national leader in implementing policies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) while spurring economic development and am happy to see the nation follow its lead.

The EPA’s proposal today is a game changing decision that reflects President Obama’s commitment to act on climate change. This is a problem that won’t go away unless we take decisive action to reduce the carbon emissions that are driving climate change. But this isn’t just about the threat it poses in the future. This is a present day threat to our national security, our economy, our health and well-being. Climate change is already affecting communities across the country...

Today’s announcement by the EPA is a historic step forward in our effort to combat climate change and protect the health of our communities. These proposed rules will go a long way toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, keeping our air clean, and protecting the health of seniors, children, and families.

BLOGS

Natural Resources Defense Council | Rebecca Stanfield

“On May 16, a coalition of companies including Starbucks, the Gap, Levis, Jones Lange LaSalle, Ikea and Nike wrote to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn urging him to, “seize the economic opportunity embedded in addressing climate change.” They explained that “the health of our economy depends on our ability to capitalize on the opportunities in front of us. These companies are part of a growing chorus of business leaders who know that America is at its best when it faces challenges head-on, that ignoring climate change is costing us billions every year that we can’t afford, and that putting people to work on solutions is both the right thing to do for future generations, and the best way to grow our economy.” [Blog, 5/29/14]

“The EPA’s guidelines could also provide states the option to meet the standard through multi-state or regional cooperation, such as the Northeast states’ Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program. This would create increased opportunities to find the lowest cost compliance options across the entire region, including renewable energy. As UCS president and former chair of RGGI Ken Kimmell has pointed out in a prior blog post, the nine RGGI states have already reduced power plant emissions by approximately 40 percent since 2005 and are poised to reach a 50 percent reduction by 2020.” [Blog, 5/28/14]

Earthjustice| Trip Van Noppen, President

“Emissions from the nation's aging fleet of coal-fired power plants are the largest source of America's carbon pollution. Although the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that existing law requires it, there are currently no federal limits on how much carbon pollution these old, dirty plants can spew into the atmosphere.” [Blog, 5/28/14]

“States have extensive experience in implementing emission guidelines and other system-wide approaches under the Clean Air Act, and are well positioned for developing and implementing plans to address carbon pollution from existing power plants under Section 111(d).” [Blog, 5/20/14]